Ethics Commission Will Not Take Action Against J.D. Alexander

Published: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 3:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 1:39 a.m.

LAKE WALES | No action will be taken on an ethics complaint filed earlier this year against former state Sen. J.D. Alexander, the Florida Commission on Ethics has decided.

The nine-member commission met Sept. 13 in a closed meeting in Tallahassee to address numerous complaints filed against public officials in Florida. The one against Alexander, who termed out of office, was about the omission of certain details on a finance disclosure form.

The complaint involved an undeveloped parcel of land that's among his assets.

In a report on the meeting, the commission summarized the status of the complaint against Alexander.

"The Commission considered a complaint filed against former Senator J.D. Alexander and found probable cause to believe that he omitted details for the asset disclosed as an ‘undeveloped lot' on his 2011 Form 6, but will take no further action unless he requests a hearing because there was no evidence of any intent to deceive the public, because his form was reviewed by the Senate general counsel before he filed it and because he subsequently amended his form."

The Ledger requested and was provided with a copy of the complaint and the investigation report. The complaint was filed by Eugene H. Benson of Vero Beach on Jan. 27.

Alexander said Friday the complaint was filed by "someone that files numerous of these technical complaints."

He provided to The Ledger a written response to the complaint: "For years as a Florida Senator, and in accordance with public disclosure law, I listed and valued land parcels on public disclosure forms," he said. "In 2012, to ensure I had conformed with law, I asked the Senate General Counsel to review my 2011 filing, and he confirmed the financial disclosure was properly disclosed and completed.

"More recently, in an abundance of caution, and although not required, I amended my reports going back three years to include a county tax ID number on several parcels to add additional clarity. I did this because I believe such clear disclosure is important in ensuring the public's trust."

The Florida Commission on Ethics is an independent, nine-member commission formed in 1974 to review complaints filed under the statutory Code of Ethics. It also answers questions from public officials about potential conflicts of interest. If the commission chooses, it can hold a public hearing once it determines a violation may have occurred. If the violation is deemed to have been committed, it can recommend civil penalties including removal from office or public employment, and fines up to $10,000 per violation.

[ Mary Toothman can be reached at mary.toothman@theledger.com or 863-802-7512. Her Twitter feed is @MaryToothman.]

<p>LAKE WALES | No action will be taken on an ethics complaint filed earlier this year against former state Sen. J.D. Alexander, the Florida Commission on Ethics has decided.</p><p>The nine-member commission met Sept. 13 in a closed meeting in Tallahassee to address numerous complaints filed against public officials in Florida. The one against Alexander, who termed out of office, was about the omission of certain details on a finance disclosure form. </p><p>The complaint involved an undeveloped parcel of land that's among his assets.</p><p>In a report on the meeting, the commission summarized the status of the complaint against Alexander. </p><p>"The Commission considered a complaint filed against former Senator J.D. Alexander and found probable cause to believe that he omitted details for the asset disclosed as an 'undeveloped lot' on his 2011 Form 6, but will take no further action unless he requests a hearing because there was no evidence of any intent to deceive the public, because his form was reviewed by the Senate general counsel before he filed it and because he subsequently amended his form."</p><p>The Ledger requested and was provided with a copy of the complaint and the investigation report. The complaint was filed by Eugene H. Benson of Vero Beach on Jan. 27. </p><p>Alexander said Friday the complaint was filed by "someone that files numerous of these technical complaints." </p><p>He provided to The Ledger a written response to the complaint: "For years as a Florida Senator, and in accordance with public disclosure law, I listed and valued land parcels on public disclosure forms," he said. "In 2012, to ensure I had conformed with law, I asked the Senate General Counsel to review my 2011 filing, and he confirmed the financial disclosure was properly disclosed and completed.</p><p>"More recently, in an abundance of caution, and although not required, I amended my reports going back three years to include a county tax ID number on several parcels to add additional clarity. I did this because I believe such clear disclosure is important in ensuring the public's trust."</p><p>The Florida Commission on Ethics is an independent, nine-member commission formed in 1974 to review complaints filed under the statutory Code of Ethics. It also answers questions from public officials about potential conflicts of interest. If the commission chooses, it can hold a public hearing once it determines a violation may have occurred. If the violation is deemed to have been committed, it can recommend civil penalties including removal from office or public employment, and fines up to $10,000 per violation.</p><p>[ Mary Toothman can be reached at mary.toothman@theledger.com or 863-802-7512. Her Twitter feed is @MaryToothman.]</p>